Russo replaced as head writer?

[Crippler]

yep we are all fucked.

 

[We Are Legion]

I have no clue where Russo will go if he is done with TNA. Maybe some Indy Wrestling stuff?

Probably.

And being used in a similar capacity he was during his WCW days... being out in front of the crowd waaaaaaay more than he should, being used as a wrestling personality rather than an actual writer.

That's what I suspect anyways. Definitely not expecting WWE to take him back. Why would they? Russo made a career off going against everything WWE's product stands for now. WWE has actually worked very hard through much of the past decade to eliminate the reputation Russo's writing gave professional wrestling during the Attitude era. I would actually be shocked if they took him back.

 

[The Wrestling Addict]

I can honestly say I don't think Russo is that bad, DEPENDING ON WHO HE IS AROUND.

Vince Russo wrote some highly entertaining shit in his WWF stint. You see in the WWF, he had to get his storylines and programs by McMahon. When he went to WCW and TNA, he didn't have McMahon to look over his stuff. WCW gave him control and freedom. With that control and freedom, Russo proved to us that he couldn't handle that type of responsibility. In TNA, look who has been above him in the company, Dixie Carter, Jeff Jarrett, Eric Bischoff, and Hulk Hogan. It all depends on who is above him. When he has people above him who actually know what he is doing, he isn't that bad. With that being said, it's a good thing for him and TNA to part ways. TNA has improved the last few months with the pushes of guys like Roode, Storm, and Ray. With Russo gone, I hope they don't discontinue these pushes as Russo has always pushed for younger guys. However, I see a lot less ridiculous storylines in TNA's future. Not a bad move forward.

 

[Keith]

I agree with you about Russio with Vince looking over his stuff not being too bad, but I think he was lucky in another sense and that was that he had such talented wrestlers like The Rock, The Undertaker, Stone Cold, Mankind, Edge and Christian etc to work with. Fact is at the time WWF was one very well oiled machine which was ran top to bottom by Mcmahon and which had some very talented people behind the scenes and on air to drive it forward. I think if Russio hadn't have had such a great roster to work with he would have come undone. And besides a lot of shit still got on the air even with Mcmahon filtering, look at the likes of the oddites, the Vel Venis penis skit and the Terri Rennel's losing the baby saga. Personally I think he is as bad as people claim and that has been proven by his work since in WCW and TNA.

Back on subject I think this has been coming for awhile, knowing the history of Hogan and Russio, and the fact that there is no sign of Hogan leaving anytime soon, it seems like Russio has slowly been losing power there. Still a little suprised as Dixie seems to like Russio and I was sure she would stick by him no matter what. Anyway will wait and see what direction the company takes from here, they need to get one guy with a vision in and have him and him alone book.

Russio going back to WWE is a long shot, although have to say some of the stuff I have seen recently on WWE have been almost Russio like, so maybe it wouldn't be such a shock LOL.

 

[AZUCAR!]

A bit more of an update:

As mentioned in the PWInsider.con Elite section, TNA sources are indicating that Vince Russo was released from his position as a lead writer for the company's creative team. The decision was not much of a surprise as much of the direction in recent months had been directed by Bruce Prichard and Eric Bischoff with Russo and Matt Conway writing the actual scripts of the shows, which were then filtered through the aforementioned and tweaked the day of production.

Dixie Carter's statement via Twitter was issued in a way that reads like a corporate statement indicating the two sides have agreed not to speak ill of the other. Sources indicate that Carter's statement was the first anyone within TNA beyond the most inner circle was officially aware of Russo's status.

Dave Lagana, who was hired by the company for Ring Ka King, was at this week's round of TV helping with production and offering feedback and some creative input. Going forward, it is expected he will be working with Matt Conway on scripts but it is not seen as a replacement of Russo's position as much as someone who was working for the company taking on some additional responsibilities.

The rumors that Lagana replaced Russo as the "head" writer seem to come from Lagana's position with the company being listed as "Creative Director" online. That job title has actually been his title since he went to work for TNA in November 2011.

The Russo departure will leave the company without one of Dixie Carter's top confidantes and in a way, top scapegoat, as there was certainly a segment of fans prepared to blame Russo for anything that was booked that they didn't like from a logical standpoint.

 

[Ben]

They def lost there scapegoat in Russo, be interested to see how much of shift there is in focus. Would have to bet that will be awhile to we can see if there's any change. They plan out stuff months in advanced and will probably have a fresh slate to work with after Lockdown.

 

[AZUCAR!]

Jim Cornette who as we all know hates Vince Russo, posted this on his twitter after news broke of Russo's departure:

Have I died?!?!?!

 

[John McHenry]

Honestly didn't see Russo as much of the Problem at TNA. Now don't get me wrong he's been a problem for others but just didn't feel like he had enough pull at TNA to truly take the blame.

 

[Keith]

It would be harsh to say that Russio was the only problem in TNA, as it has been a very poorly run company for years now and certainly that is nothing to do with him, and there are a lot of backstage politics which again maybe had very little to do with him. However the on air product is clearly the main issue and the one which needs the most work, and fact is Russio for years has had most of the say over that, therefore just like he was a huge part of the death of WCW he has to take a huge part of the blame for the decline in TNA.

Also yes they lost a scapegoat, but Dixie has not creative imput so beyond hailling and fireing the right people I really don't see how she should get the blame for what goes on TV and PPV.

 

[Kiffy Lube]

I wanted to post Spike Dudley's drunk Santa character of what Russo has done with TNA but YT doesn't have it.